Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for recurrent lumbar spine and left knee disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Veteran's cervical spine, left ankle disorders (including arthritis), and right shoulder disabilities are granted. The Veteran's left and right ankle disabilities are also granted. However, the claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left and right shoulders remain pending as additional development is needed.

The Veteran's initial rating for right shoulder impingement syndrome is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher than 20 percent rating. The ratings for neck condition, TMJ with bruxism, and GERD are also denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for a rating in excess of 50 percent for bilateral pes planus, subcalcaneal pain, Morton's neuroma with hallux valgus, and osteoarthritis of the bilateral great toes, as well as the claim for TDIU due to the need for an updated examination to determine if the Veteran's service-connected foot impairments have caused additional compensable neuropathy.

Service connection is granted for lumbar spine osteoarthritis, right foot onychomycosis, left foot onychomycosis, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss.,Service connection is remanded for PTSD and headaches.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for eligibility for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment, or adaptive equipment only due to lack of physical loss or permanent loss of use of hands or feet, permanent impairment of vision in both eyes, scar formation resulting from severe burn injury, or ankylosis of knees or hips.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and rating of his conditions has been dismissed.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an error in satisfying VA's duty to assist prior to the July 2019 decision.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 10% for limitation of motion and a separate 20% rating for instability. The Board has granted the 20% rating for instability, finding moderate instability warranting such a rating.

The Veteran's service-connected migraines are rated at 50 percent, the highest schedular rating under DC 8100. The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and mild levoscoliosis is not rated higher than 20 percent.

The Veteran's attorney withdrew the appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for left wrist strain and osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder has been readjudicated, with the Board finding that new and relevant evidence supports her claim. Service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral hip disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for right shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis (claimed as arm condition, right, forearm condition and shoulder condition, right) has been dismissed due to the withdrawal of the appeal by his authorized representative.

The Board found that the reduction of the Veteran's disability rating from 20% to 10% for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was improper and restored her original 20% rating.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right ankle degenerative arthritis and separate rating for right ankle instability was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have ankylosis of the right ankle, which is required for a higher rating under DC 5271.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to insufficient medical evidence and failure of the Veteran to respond to VA examination requests.

The Board has determined that another remand is necessary to obtain a proper medical opinion regarding the Veteran's left hip osteoarthritis and to request Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the service connection for his right and left knee conditions. The Board finds that a VA examination should be scheduled to address these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service injury and symptomatology since service.